DHAKA, April 17, 2024 (BSS) - Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury today said UN Climate Adaptation Conference National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Expo 2024 will be held at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) from April 22 to 25.

The Expo is being organized under the supervision of UNFCCC with the cooperation of expert groups of least developed countries and various organizations.  

"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the conference. UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell will be present at the NAP expo," he told a press conference at his ministry here on the occasion of NAP Expo 2024.

Saber Hossain said a total of  383 people from 104 countries have registered with UNFCCC to participate in NAP Expo 2024.

Besides, he said, 550 people including representatives of various ministries, departments and organizations of the country, climate experts, representatives of NGOs, students will participate in the meeting.

By participating in this conference, everyone will be able to mutually benefit from various issues related to the adaptation activities of different countries to deal with the impacts of climate change, he added.

Saber Chowdhury said NAP Expo is an international forum where various countries, organizations and other relevant stakeholders interact and exchange experiences in the formulation and implementation of NAP.  

Expert meetings will be held to discuss country experiences, best practices, implementation challenges, needs and information on support provided and received related to the NAP formulation and implementation process. The meetings will also provide an opportunity to assess the implementation progress of various NAPs, he said.

In addition, the minister said it is a global platform to secure funding from other climate funds, including the GCF, for the formulation and implementation of NAPs in countries vulnerable to climate change.  

"The expo will also organize training to identify gaps and needs related to the process of NAP formulation and implementation in developing countries.  Bangladesh will host various sessions at NAP Expo 2024," he said.

The minister said there will be a total of 20 stalls in this conference where adaptive activities of different countries will be displayed.  

Also, in 16 sessions over 4 days, experts will discuss about transformational adaptation, financial mechanism, adaptation activity monitoring and evaluation tools, gender responsive adaptation.

Rainwater harvesting, water harvesting through solar energy in hilly areas, climate tolerant seeds, livestock conservation and other agricultural activities, Delta Plan activities in support of adaptation activities, cyclone shelters for climate adaptation, Mujib Killa, roads, culvert construction, climate resilient urban management and climate refugees will be showcased on climate adaptation topics centering 10 sites allocated for Bangladesh.

"We can also gain experience from the orientation activities displayed at foreign stalls.  Various ministries and local and foreign organizations will participate in this expo to demonstrate the climate adaptation of the country," Saber Hossain said.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Additional Secretary (Administration) Iqbal Abdullah Harun, Additional Secretary (EPC) Tapan Kumar Biswas, Director General of Department of Environment Dr. Abdul Hamid and Chief Conservator of Forest Md Amir Hosain Chowdhury were present at the press conference.